Track for track laying wheels



R A H C U K J TRACK FOR TRACK LAYING WHEELS Filed May 6, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 QN NM J. KUCHAR TRACK FOR TRACK LAYING WHEELS Filed May 6, 195; a Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZZ" y 26, 936 .J. KUCHAR V TRACK FOR TRACK LAYING WHEELS Filed May 6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 g g; 2 12;? 1/ um I l "I! .l wl l MIMI I I b HQ? 1" H I j I H IH'I 3 'Lgm- I Wh m Q I a I H I l I 1 I 40 Slit I I &1 5 t :4 4; 9 "j I Z Li. 2 20 Q Q 6 I T" :5 W" H F" 1 v Q 17 2 4 20 24 2% 25 5 zg/fzfi z J8 Z @UJZ Z52"; 2 26 kj osgvlfdcfiar )mclu iw Patented May 26, 1936 TRACK FOR TRACK LAYING WHEELS Joseph Kuchar, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Forged- Trak Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Dela- Appiication May 6, 1932, Serial No. 609,606

13 Claims.

" comprising a series of articulated track elements,

adjacent track elements being adapted to be trussed one to the other so as to provide a beam or bridge which is rigid against displacement in one direction and which is flexible with respect to displacement in the opposite direction.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved track.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved track element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a track having an improved truss mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved track of this type which is adapted to fold around a relatively small wheel.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a truss wheel embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View on a larger scale, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. plan view of the track, partly in section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the track, showing the construction thereof in greater detail than is shown in Fig. 1, and on a larger scale; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the link elements.

Referring to the drawings, the improved track I!) is shown as part of a truss wheel. This truss wheel comprises a beam II which is pivotally mounted on an axle I? at its center. At either end the beam ll carries bearings l3 for axles M which project outwardly from the beam at either side. Wheels it are keyed to the axle I4 at each end. The peripheries of the wheels l5 are adapted to engage with portions of the track, which provide a rail or support for said wheels in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

The track I is constituted by a continuous series of articulated elements l6 which are pivotally connected together so that the same may accommodate themselves around the wheels l in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Means are provided so that each track element may be trussed to the adjacent track elements in such a manner that the track is rigid when subjected to load in one direction and is flexible and readily bent in the other direction. The rigidity referred to is important in the portion of the track located below and between the two pairs of wheels l5, this portion acting as an inverted bridge and distributing over a large area the load applied by the axle l2 on the beam l I.

Each track element comprises a shoe plate I! which may be formed of forged steel, rolled steel or other suitable material. Each plate El may be provided with transverse grousers or ribs l8. At its forward and rearward edges the plate I1 is provided with curved surfaces which cooperate with complementary surfaces upon the adjacent shoe plates in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 4.. On each side each shoe plate if has secured thereto a link element 1 9 which will now be described. The link element [9 preferably is a forging of the structure and configuration shown in the drawings. The link element It is provided with hubs Zil, 2| which are staggered transversely in the longitudinal direction so that the outer face of the hub 2b is in substantial longitudinal alignment with the inner face of the hub 25, as will more readily be understood with reference to Fig. 3. The hubs 2b and H are connected by a sloping vertical web 22 which is provided at its lower edge with a horizontal web 23 and at its upper edge with a horizontal web 24. The base web 23 is provided on its upper side with bosses 25 which are provided with openings whereby the link element may be secured to the shoe plate l l by means of bolts 26.

The upper surface of the web 24 is machined to provide a flat face 2'5. As will hereinafter appear, the flat faces 2'! of the aligned links provide a track or rail for the wheels l5, which track or rail is laid down in front of the wheels and is taken up after the last wheels have passed over it. On the inner side of the surface 21 the link element i9 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 28, which may suitably be a web of substantially triangular appearance. The arm 28 is provided at its upper end or apex with a hub 29, the axis of which is offset with respect to the center line between the hubs 2E! and 2| and at a substantial distance thereabove. In the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings the hub 28 is located near the hub 20 and on the other side thereof remote from the hub 2 I. The relation of the hubs 2t, 2! and 29 will readily be understood with reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings.

It will be understood that the link elements 19 which are secured to opposite sides of the shoe plate I! are exactly similar, one being a mirror image of the other, so that the hubs 20, 2! and 29 on each link element are in transverse alignment.

The hubs 29 of each opposite pair of link elements is are connected by sleeves 38 which have a drive fit therein, and extend slightly therebeyond on either side so that in assembled condition said ends project into the hubs 2| which are counter-bored to receive them. Pins 3! have a drive fit in the hubs 2! and extend through the sleeves 39 in which they have a working fit.

In assembling the track tWo opposite link elements !9 are placed on either side of a sleeve or bushing 30 with their hubs 20 in alignment therewith. The link elements are pushed inwardly so as to enter the sleeve 3!] into the hubs 29 so as to project therebeyond to the desired extent. A pin 3! is passed through the sleeve 39 and a further pair of opposite links !9 are placed with their hubs 2% in alignment with the pin 3! and with their hubs 29 in alignment with a further sleeve 39. The last said pair of link elements are then pressed home. This assembling operation is continued until a track of the desired length is built up. The link elements 9 may be bolted to the shoe plate l! at any time after these links are assembled with respect to the sleeve or bushing 30. While it has been indicated that it is preferred to press opposite links !9 upon the pins 3! simultaneously with the pressing of the links upon the sleeve it will be understood that this manner of assembly may be modified. For example, the pins 3! may be pushed from one side of the links I9 after they have been assembled upon the bushing 39.

It will be noted that the sleeve 30 having a drive fit in the hubs 29 secures the opposite links !9 in rigid assembly. The pin 3! having a drive fit in the hubs 2!, is rigid with respect thereto. Between the sleeve 33 and the pin 3! there is a Working clearance. Consequently the only surfaces subjected to Wear owing to the relative movement between adjacent links are the inner surfaces of the sleeves 39 and the outer surfaces of the pins 3! in contact therewith. Owing to the construction described the surfaces are enclosed with respect to sand and dirt and are adapted to retain lubricant supplied thereto in any suitable manner for a considerable time.

In order that the ends of the track may be readily united together and disconnected, for example when applying the track to the wheels !5 or removing it therefrom, I make a sleeve 32 at one extremity of the track shorter than the sleeves 39 so that its ends lie flush with the hubs 20 into which it is pressed. The hubs 2! at the other end of the track are provided with the usual counterbores, into which are placed rings 33, which occupy the position of the projecting ends of the sleeves 3!] in the other pivots of the track. A pin 34 has a free sliding fit through the sleeve 32, the rings 33 and the hubs 2! associated therewith. These hubs 2! are provided on their outer v faces with slots so that cotter pins 35 may pass through openings at the extremities of the pin 34 so as to hold said pin in position.

The truss elements are carried by pins 36 which may be driven through the hubs 29 during the assembly operation above described, or at a later time. The truss elements comprise links 37! and 38. The links 3'! are substantially larger than the links 38 and a pair of links 38 are preferably employed alternately along the track, with single links 31. The links 3'! are provided with hubs 39 and the links 38 are provided with hubs 40, which hubs are adapted to have a Working fit on the pins 36. The links 3! and 38 are directed rearwardly from their hubs 39 and 40 and their rearmost ends are slotted as shown at 4! and 92, respectively. The pin 36 of the next rearward link element l9 passes through the slot 4! or 42 as the case may be. The assembly will readly be understood from Fig. 3 from which it will be noted that the links 3? are located substantially on the longitudinal center line and the links 38 on each side thereof so that the tension will be applied to the links symmetrically with respect to the track.

It will readily be understood that the track is assembled by applying the same around the Wheels I5. The rings 33 are inserted in the recess or counterbores on the inner sides of the hubs 2!. The hubs 29 are then slipped in between the hubs 2! and the pin 34 is slipped into position. The cotter pins 35 are then inserted in position. The pin 36 which passes through the hubs 29 of one of extreme track elements has a clearance fit therein and can readily be removed and replaced. The pin 36' may be held in place by cotter pins M. The truss elements are secured together by driving the pin 36 into position on said track element so as to assemble the adjacent links 3'! and 38 thereto and the installation is complete.

It will readily be seen in Fig. 1 that upward pressure exerted by the ground upon the track below and between the portions of wheels I5 Will cause the links 3'! and 38 to be subjected to tension. These links consequently truss this portion of the track so that the same acts as a rigid beam providing a large surface for the reception of the load. As the track moves around the wheels !5 the pins 33 move in the slots 4! and 42 in the links 3'! and 38 as the pins 36 approach each other. The manner in which the pins 36 are offset with respect to the center line between the pivots of the track elements on which they are carried causes the free slotted ends of the links 3'! and 38 to be displaced downwardly or outwardly away from the adjacent pin 36. This feature is highly advantageous since it enables smaller wheels !5 to be used or conversely enables longer truss arms 28 to be employed. The longer truss arms acting with a greater leverage permit the truss arms and also the links 3! and 38 to be made lighter. Adjacent their upper ends the truss arms 28 are provided with flat surfaces 43 which are adapted to engage the adjacent arms 28 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, when the track is going around the wheels. This engagement provides a uniform curvature of this slack portion of the track and prevents sudden jerks therein.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of ,the United States is:

1. An endless track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, each track element comprising a pair of truss arms, removable means securing the upper ends of each pair of rigid truss arms together, and a rigid slotted truss link pivotally mounted on each removable means and having a limited sliding engagement with the removable means of an adjacent track element, the removable means of each track element'being located outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to the pivotal connections of its track element, whereby the maximum length of the truss arms and leverage is obtained with said pivotally mounted rigid truss links, without fouling when compactly folded at the turns.

2. An endless track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, each track element comprising a pair of truss arms, a pin connecting each pair of truss arms, and rigid links pivotally mounted on said pins, said links extending longitudinally of the track and each being provided with a slotted end through which the link carrying pin of an adjacent track element passes, said pins being located substantially outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to the track pivots of the track elements carrying said pins, whereby said links are deflected away from the path of the link carrying pins of other track elements when the track is bent.

3. A track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, a transverse member carried by each track element remote from its track pivots and substantially outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to said track pivots, and aligned rigid links connecting said transverse members in series, each link being adapted for lost motion with respect to one transverse member and to be deflected by last said transverse member clear of the other links and transverse members of the track when the track is bent.

4. A track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, each track element comprising a shoe plate, link elements removably secured thereto, a truss arm carried by each link element terminating substantially outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track beyond the pivots of the track element, a pin connecting the inner ends of each pair of arms beyond said pivots, and a rigid link pivoted on each pin and having a slotted end engaging the link carrying pin of an adjacent track element, said links being all directed in one direction, whereby the maximum leverage of the truss arms when resisting upward bending of the track sections between the wheels is obtained without fouling links with pins when the track sections are compactly folded about the Wheels.

5. A track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, each track element comprising a shoe plate, link elements removably secured thereto, a truss arm carried by each link element terminating substantially outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to the pivots of the track element, a pin connecting the inner ends of each pair of arms, and a rigid link pivoted on each pin and having a slotted end engaging the pin of an adjacent track element, each of said links extending in the longitudinal direction of the track from the pin on which it is pivotally mounted to a point vertically between the pivots of the track element carrying said pin.

6. A track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, each track element comprising a truss arm, a transverse member secured thereto at a point substantially above and outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to the pivots of its track element, and a rigid link pivotally mounted on each transverse member and extending towards'the vertical transverse central plane of its track element and terminating therebeyond in a slotted end, said slotted end receiving the link carrying transverse member of the adjacent track element. '7. A track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, a transverse element carried by each of said elements substantially inwardly of its tread portion and outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to its track pivots, a link pivotally mounted on each alternate transverse element, and a pair of rigid links pivotally mounted on each other alternate transverse element, each of said links being provided remote from its pivotal point with a slotted end which receives the transverse member of the adjacent track element.

8. A track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, a transverse element carried by each of said elements substantially inwardly of its tread portion and outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to its track pivots, a link pivotally mounted on each alternate transverse element, and a pair of rigid links pivotally mounted on each other alternate transverse element, each of said links being provided remote from its pivotal point with a slotted end which receives the transverse member of the adjacent track element, the first said links being located substantially in the longitudinal axial plane of the track, and the last said links being located on both sides thereof.

9. A track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, a transverse element carried by each of said elements substantially inwardly of its tread portion and outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to its track pivots, said transverse elements being offset in the same direction longitudinally with respect to the track, a rigid link pivotally mounted on each alternate transverse element, and a pair of links pivotally mounted on each other alternate transverse element, each of said links extending from its pivotal support in a direction opposite to said offset and having a slotted end which receives the transverse member of the adjacent track element.

10. A track comprising a series of track elements pivotally connected together, a transverse element carried by each of said elements substantially inwardly of its tread portion and outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to its track pivots, all of said transverse elements being offset in the same longitudinal direction of the track, a rigid link pivotally mounted on each alternate transverse element, and a pair of rigid links pivotally mounted on each other alternate transverse element, each of said links extending fro-m its pivotal support in a direction opposite to said offset, said links being provided with slotted ends which receive the transverse member of the adjacent track element,

outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to the pivotal connections of their track elements.

12. A track comprising a series of track elements, each track element comprising a shoe plate, link elements bolted thereto, truss arms carried by said link elements terminating at a point located substantially inwardly of the shoe plate and oifset outwardly with respect to the ends of the link elements, pins connecting opposite link elements of two adjacent track elements so as to pivotally connect them together, removable means connecting the inner outwardly offset ends of said truss arms beyond said pins of said link elements, and rigid truss links pivotally mounted on said removable means, said truss links having slotted ends through which pass the removable link carrying means of adjacent track elements.

13. A track comprising a series of track elements, each track element comprising a shoe plate and a pair of link elements bolted thereto, pivots connecting the link elements of adjacent track elements together, a pin carried by each track element at a position located substantially inwardly of the shoe plate and substantially outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the track with respect to the track pivots of said track element, and a rigid slotted truss link connecting each pair of said pins in series, said truss links being adapted to lost motion with respect to the pins when the track is bent.

JOSEPH KUCHAR. 

